Charge 5 not always recording exercise

[PubliusJunior]

My Charge 5 is not always recording exercise, even when it records zone minutes. For example, today, under zone minutes, it shows 38 minutes of "intense activity" for 72 total zone minutes (6 min. of fat burn and 66 min. of cardio).  However, under exercise, nothing was recorded. I've set my exercise to record anything over 15 minutes. The 38 minutes of exercise was continuous.  Why was nothing recorded?  

Moderator edit: format

[DavideFitbit]

Hi, thank you for sharing all these details about the problem you experienced with your Charge 5, @PubliusJunior. 

Before considering other options, please let me know what was the type of activity that you were trying to have the Charge 5 record automatically. As you mentioned earlier, most Fitbit devices automatically recognize and record high-movement activities through the SmartTrack feature that are at least 15 minutes long. The activities that are tracked automatically are: Walk, Run, Outdoor Bike, Elliptical, Sports, Aerobic Workout, Swimming. 

In the meantime, I recommend that you try restarting the device again using the three pulse restart method mentioned here below, instead of the restart option found on the Charge 5 itself: 

1. Connect your device to the charging cable. For instructions, see How do I charge my Fitbit device?
2. Press the button located on the flat end of the charger 3 times (end of the USB cable), pausing for 1 second between presses. Then wait 10 seconds or until the Fitbit logo appears.

I'll be around.

[PubliusJunior]

Thanks so much for your prompt reply. The exercise type I was trying to
record was "Walk". I'll keep track of my activities today and let you know
if any other exercise fails to record.

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Hello again,  Just getting back with a little more information about my Charge 5 failing to record exercise. It failed to record a second walk later that day, but since then has been working accurately.  I didn't do the three pulse restart, as it began to work later in the day. This is something that happened sporadically on my old Charge 2, but this is the first time it's happened on the Charge 5. It would be useful to know what causes this, and if there is anything that can be done to avoid it. It's true you can enter exercise manually, but that changes number of steps walked (at least on the old Charge 2) and makes that reading inaccurate. Thanks again for your earlier response -- this is just supplemental information and doesn't necessarily require an answer.

[Alh23rd]

I, too, am not getting the fitbit to record my elliptical workout.  There is no icon for elliptical on the display to manually start my exercise session either.

[DavideFitbit]

Welcome to the Community forums, @Alh23rd.  

Thank you for sharing your inquiry about the Charge 5. 

Most Fitbit devices automatically recognize and record high-movement activities through the SmartTrack feature. To start, your device recognizes activities at least 15 minutes long. You can automatically track: Walk, Run, Outdoor Bike, Elliptical, Sports, Aerobic Workout, Swimming. 

Let me know if you already tried the restart procedure mentioned here earlier (using the charging cable) and if you continue to experience the same problem afterwards. In the meantime, you can also add the exercise shortcut to your device in order to start the activity from your device manually. To do so: 

1. Tap the Today tab > your profile picture >  your device image.
2. Tap Exercise Shortcuts and make your changes:
3. Tap + Exercise Shortcut to add an exercise.
4. To remove an exercise, swipe left on a shortcut and tap Delete (on Windows 10, tap the trash can icon).
5. To reorder the exercises, tap Edit. Press and hold a shortcut, and drag it up or down to change its position.
6. Sync your device

@PubliusJunior Thank you for sharing that you haven't experienced this problem since. Let me know if you continue to have any problem to track your activities, even after a restart procedure. 

I'll be around.